(minor gore warning in the picture) Guys please admire with me the San art user melftoes made on twitter! It's from the third book when the palace falls!

********

San strapped his weapons belt around his waist how he had done countless times already. The leather was familiar under his hands, ran through the buckle with the usual warmth to settle in the place it seemed to be made for. He felt the old scars on his fingertips as he made sure the fastenings of his armour were all secured. Its weight was soothing, reminded him of the heaviness of responsibility. San was confident with or without it, unafraid of pain or death, but it designated his role. Gave his existence a purpose.

He swung his white cape around his shoulders, magical white hand aiding the routine of guiding the dipping fabric below his wings and fastening it on the other side. Golden accents lined the polished metal covering his chest. The glamour meant nothing to him. Armour bent and broke no matter its looks. But for his pride, for his people, there was a role to uphold.

Movement at the entrance of the cave had San glance up as he slipped into his boots, ready to depart. Hongjoong leaned against the wall, taking in the modest state of San's room. He didn't have many belongings in the first place, and wasn't one to decorate. Everything here was packed already, while their mage still swam in his many books and potion ingredients and trinkets. Yet another task for Aodhán.

"You ready, big boy?" The mage asked, casual and fanciful at the same time. San asked him to dress well, even if their sorcerer never looked average. But for the occasion, he donned his blood red coat, velvet with black fringes to match his boots. His necklaces and rings glinted golden in contrast, and his two-coloured hair was pushed out of his forehead. He looked regal, powerful and unique.

"Where to first?" San asked, pleased by Hongjoong's efforts. They might be the rulers of their respective homes currently, but Seonghwa's future as their emperor depended on their results. Though San made it a point to take Seonghwa's side even during the decade of believing him dead, there would always be those who doubted the elves. Diplomacy was key, so they needed to convince their people.

"Your place. Let's get it over with." Hongjoong studied his fingernails, unimpressed by the weight of this mission. San nodded before he marched past him.

"I'll fetch the twins, then I'm right there."

His two sons were over in Seonghwa's room, where their gorgeous elf had been dressing them and saying his goodbyes. The two were clad in matching white outfits and they clung to their athair as he kissed their soft cheeks and promised they would reunite soon.

When San came in, heart swelling at the sight of his family and of Seonghwa's beautiful smile as he cradled the two against his body, the twins managed to break away from him. San kissed Seonghwa's plush lips and ran his fingers through his inky black hair. Memorised the gentle glimmer in those eyes of amethyst, the stars trapped in them. Seonghwa's smile was adoring, his beauty unmatched. San wanted to hold him, but instead, he whispered yet another promise they would see each other soon. Then he took his kids along to meet Hongjoong. The twins behaved near him, already learning the importance of listening to their commander. They pouted that they wanted to spend time with their gentle emmya instead, and San didn't say it out loud, but his heart also ached to part from Seonghwa. Still so delicate in his chest, it threatened to crumble whenever his fear of losing the elf again swelled up.

Doing this for him was what kept him moving. So San took Lonan's hand and Fiorello peered up at Hongjoong when the mage coquettishly hugged San's arm and offered the boy his fingers. Once they were all connected securely, Hongjoong led them through his portal.

They appeared in San's private chambers in the castle of the vault. A place he and Hongjoong travelled to often, especially in recent years, as San built up his people once hope sparked in the night sky again.

The twins knew this place. They had toys here, plush dolls for when he was gone for weeks at a time and the twins needed to visit him. Their upbringing was different from San's youth. But he excused the comforts with their half elven sides. Seonghwa taught him not to be so hard on himself and others, even if that was how the seraphim managed their cohesion.

Though his sons wanted to rush right off to go play, San kept them by his side. He knelt before them, caressing their little faces. He saw Seonghwa in them, and himself. Was ever-awed by this creation. No one was as beautiful as his kids, Seonghwa's gifts to him. Whenever San saw them, he wanted to fall to his knees and hold them close, cherish them forever since they were his greatest treasures.

As with Seonghwa, it was often difficult for him to convey this affection. He trained them, hoping they could protect themselves and their loved ones. But he would always stand in front of them before they ever got into a fight.

"Today, we invite our people to join with the elves. I would like you two to behave out there. Show everyone how strong our family is," San explained to them, and Fiorello gasped with excitement.

"Then we can live in a castle all the time?" His wings fluttered with his giddiness, and San had to chuckle as he wiped some crumbs from Lonan's lips.

"Yes, that too. But we want to inspire and we want to lead today. So just leave it to me and hold the line, yes?"

"Yes!" the two chirped, ready to defend him. When San lifted to his feet, the two stood at attention, faces grave and little chests pushed out. Their wings weren't angled properly, but they looked too adorable for San to scold them.

Once upon a time, he wished his father would have accepted his efforts for once instead of punishing him with stricter rules. San was proud of who he had become, knew his strength and willpower were thanks to those harsh rules. But Seonghwa taught him how much he had been missing out on proper affection. How good it could feel to relax and allow another to hold him when despair threatened to bubble over.

San didn't want his sons to suffer how he had suffered. He wanted them to be strong, both in body and soul. And while it was easier to leave the emotional part to Seonghwa, he was happy to make an effort.

They left his chambers together, startling a maid in the corridor when they emerged behind her. As soon as she recognised them, she curtseyed elegantly. The blush on her cheeks made Hongjoong snicker.

"Your Majesty! We didn't know you were back. Shall I run you a bath or call for dinner?" She barely dared a peek at them, and San smiled, hoping to soothe the fright. It was not common for his people to be as open and comfortable with the servants as Seonghwa was with Seungyoun. And it seemed every effort San made to change that only flustered them more.

"No need; we won't be for long. We came to hold a council with the ministry, so please gather them."

"Right away, Milord." She bowed at Hongjoong and the princes as well before she scurried off, any prior task forgotten. San had introduced the kids as his, but he never mentioned the parent. There was gossip in every corridor, but they took after him, so until now, no one suspected Seonghwa's survival. Aside from those who knew from their rescue mission and spread the word. In this wing of the castle, it was quiet, but San knew a storm was coming.

They slowly made their way to the meeting room. The kids marched along with the firm stride of soldiers, but their eyes were ever-awed as they looked around the surroundings that would have been their home under different circumstances. If Seonghwa weren't married to six others and so loyal to his people, San would have brought him here in a heartbeat and doused him in luxury. But alas, that version of him wouldn't be Seonghwa either.

"Anyone in this palace who doesn't want to marry you, or is that just part of the charm?" Hongjoong asked him as he sashayed down the grand halls of marble, always pleased with their beauty. Only the grin curling around his lips told San of his thoughts.

"I fulfil any standards the seraphim ask for, aside from my missing sword arm. They think my spouse dead and me in mourning. So it's natural they are interested. Many of our warriors desire relationships to fulfil their emotional needs. I look as if I need help, in their eyes." And perhaps he did. In that decade, at least. When grief and insomnia ate at him every day.

But he didn't need to burden any other soul with his pain. Only Seonghwa was capable of cure him. And he did. Gave San a gift worth living for.

San glimpsed down at his two eager sons fondly while Hongjoong couldn't believe his ears.

"A king as a standard. And I thought my people were strict with themselves. Almost makes me jealous, seeing all of them looking at you like that."

San paused as the words settled, but his legs still carried him to the main hall, where voices bustled over each other. Everyone had been waiting for an update after the rumour of Seonghwa's return to save the elves. Now that San's presence was confirmed, chaos broke loose.

No wonder Hongjoong wanted to take care of this first. Mages didn't ask many questions, their wit miles ahead or busy with the next steps already.

Ultimately, San had to smile. Hongjoong's attitude was nonchalant, but his words rang with truth.

"Things will change today. Seonghwa's survival, the identity of the twins, everything will finally come to light. This meeting in the forest determines my fate, as well," San replied, not starting anything right before they met their people. The twins stretched their necks to look at the crowd of winged people filtering into the main hall. This news mattered to all of them, as they were a folk of warriors and the future of their kingdom was involved. The ministry and commanders would heed his call, but everyone else also deserved to know who they fought for.

"Will it? You won't stay in your seat?" Hongjoong asked as they lingered out of sight until everyone made their way inside.

"This is an ideal opportunity for my sister to judge whether I make the right decisions for our people. They will follow my call, but if the people are dissatisfied with the results, I may lose my position. I only momentarily kept this throne."

Rowan, San's nephew and the true heir to the throne, was almost of age now. He was young, inexperienced, but he could easily make a different call than San. If he led them to support Seonghwa and found the entire rest of the empire pushing against it, Rowan could make the vault independent. San might not want to stay anyway if that were the result. This was his home, and the twins deserved to live among their people if they so chose, but San would always pick Seonghwa over anyone else.

"Let's see what they have to say," Hongjoong replied, and even when he was such a haughty and flashy person, it was good to have him by San's side.

They made their way down the stairs and towards the open hall full of mumbling voices. The servants at the door bowed deeply to San, and the two guards whispered about his company. So word spread already and people guessed who the twins might truly be.

Now, to explain why Seonghwa didn't return to his people sooner.

As soon as they appeared in the door, the noise picked up. The ministry had assembled around the throne, but many others filled the hall, officers and soldiers and scribes.

San confidently walked through their middle, splitting the crowd to make his way to his throne. Most of the rumours he heard being exchanged were true. The gasps when people recognised the pointed ears and those eyes on his children, meaning only one thing.

As he turned to face the room to catch up with his people, he counted on those among them who witnessed Seonghwa during the battle against the orcs.

Everything came together after four years.